Dontari Poe

In 2012 kcyoungguns had Michael Rose Ivey write a review on what he thought about the Chiefs 2012 NFL draft. He is back with kcyoungguns.com to give take on how the Chiefs 2012 picks panned out. Here is the link for what he wrote in 2o12. reference. https://kcyoungguns.com/2015/05/04/rating-the-2012-chiefs-draft/

Dontari Poe DT Memphis Round 1

Dontari Poe’s biggest negative coming out of college was that lack of production that did not match his incredible combine numbers. However, there has not been any knock on Poe since entering the NFL. Widely considered the best 3-4 Nose Tackle in the NFL, Poe has not only been dominant but consistently on the field. At 345-pounds, Poe led all defensive players in percentage of snaps played with 95% this past year. An incredible feat for a man his size who is double and sometimes triple teamed in the Chiefs 3-4 scheme. His production has definitely justified the Chiefs high selection of Poe, as he looks to be the anchor of this defense for years to come.

Jeff Allen OG Illinois Second round pick

Jeff Allen has been a consistent piece in the revolving offensive line of the Chiefs. Allen has displayed his versatility since becoming a member of the Chiefs. Originally drafted as a OT, the third-year offensive linemen has played in 31 games (27 starts) at the left guard position. He did miss a lot of the season last year with a a torn bicep tendon but looks to be healthy and start at guard.

Donald Stephenson OT Oklahoma Third round pick

The Kansas City native has given a surprise amount for production in his three years with the Chiefs. He has done well in his limited starting action, but looks to take on a full starting role at left tackle. The belief in Stephenson’s ability to be a solid starter is evident in the Chiefs allowing former LT Branden Albert to walk away in free agency in 2014. This will be a big year for Stephenson as the job seems to be his to lose.

Devon Wylie WR Fresno State Round 4

Devon Wylie never flourished with the Chiefs but was not really expected to make a big impact. With a lot of other needs at the time, many questioned this selection. However, Wylie did appear in six games his rookie year, catching 6 passes for 53 yards along with occasionally being used as a kickoff and punt returner. Wylie has been a league journey man and is currently a free agent.

De’Quan Menzie Alabama Round 5

Menzie unfortunately never played for the Chiefs and is currently retired. Menzie is just another Alabama defensive player who may have been a product of a quality system under Nick Saban.

Cyrus Gray Texas A&M Round 6

Gray was productive coming out of Texas A&M and was thought to be a quality addition to the roster as a sixth round pick. Unfortunately, Gray has been stuck at third string behind Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis. There has been little opportunity for Gray thus far, but he provides quality depth behind Charles and Davis

Jerome Long DT San Diego State Round 7

Like many other seventh round picks, Long has had a tough time sticking with a team. Long was cut by the Chiefs and then claimed off the practice squad by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is currently a free agent.

Junior Hemingway WR Michigan Round 7 Pick 31

Junior Hemingway is quite a surprise and even a paradox in the NFL. As a second to last pick int the draft, Hemingway has seen action and even provided a little production at the WR spot. Hemingway has two touchdown receptions to go along with 233 yards on 25 receptions. Hemingway will be a backup again but he has proven to be reliable when counted upon.

Standout: Dontari Poe NT

Poe could even be considered the biggest surprise in the draft. A lot of people who prefer film over combine stats had more negatives than positives to say about Poe’s game at Memphis. However since coming to Kansas City, Poe has been nothing but dominant and will continue to be a staple in the Chiefs defense.

Bust: Devon Wylie

For a 4th round pick, you would expect a little bit more production from Wylie but in his defense he was drafted higher than his value.

Biggest Surprise: Junior Hemingway

Not much expected from the seventh round pick, but Hemingway has been productive in his limited role with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have not had a dominant defense since the 1990’s. Since then, the Chiefs have had one of the worst defense in the NFL. They have been consistently ranked one of the worst defenses in the NFL. Right now things could be changing for the Chiefs. The Chiefs have a great young nucleus of players on defense.

The defensive line is probably the weakest tier of their defense. However, this could be changing really soon. They already have a couple good young defensive ends in Tyson Jackson and Allen Bailey. Jackson is a great run stuffer, but for him to be considered a great defensive end he needs to rush the quarterback better. Allen Bailey is a second year player who has a chance to be an elite defensive end. He has the elite athleticism and elite strength, but has yet to put all of his skills together on the field. Bailey is going into his second year and I expect a jump in his production this year.

The two wild cards on the defensive line are Jerrell Powe and Dontari Poe. Jerrell Powe is a second year player who looked good in limited action last year. Powe sat most of last year because the coaching staff wanted him to digest the playbook. Powe has the potential to be a good nose tackle in the NFL and could be the tone setter on the Chiefs defense. Dontari Poe on the other hand is going to be a rookie this year. He has the most upside of anyone on the team. He is a 6-4 350 defensive lineman. He has the rare ability to be a 3 down lineman. If he reaches his potential he should play defensive end on 1st and 2nd down then moving to nose tackle on third down passing situations.

The linebackers are the playmakers of the Chiefs defense. The Chiefs have Derrick Johnson at inside linebacker. Derrick Johnson is an All Pro and the leader of the defense. He was the Chiefs best defensive playmaker last year. Jovan Belcher the other inside linebacker is a solid player. He doesn’t make many spectacular plays, but doesn’t make many mistakes. He should be replaced as a starter. Brandon Siler the back up inside linebacker could eventually emerge as a starter. However, it all depends on how he returns from his torn achilles. The Chiefs outside linebackers are Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, they have a chance to be one of the best combo of outside linebackers in the NFL. Tamba Hali is already an All Pro pass rusher registering 10 sacks or more for the past 3 years. Justin Houston is an up and coming player in the NFL. He has a chance to be even better then Tamba Hali. He has the potential to be a 12 to 15-sack guy for a very long time. However, The Chiefs must add depth at outside linebacker.

The secondary is probably the best tier of the defense right now. They have Brandon Flowers, Stanford Routt, and Javier Arenas at cornerback. This group of cornerbacks has to be considered one of the best units in football. Flowers is a great cover corner for the Chiefs who is also good against the run. Routt is a great number two corner and should excel playing next to Brandon Flowers. Javier Arenas is a good nickel corner and all around player. He is good in run support and can even rush the quarterback. Not to mention a great special team player for the Chiefs. At safety their starters are Kendrick Lewis and Eric Berry. Eric Berry is returning after his ACL tear last year. He is arguably the most important player on the Chiefs defense. He is the biggest game changer on this defense. Kendrick Lewis is a good safety for the Chiefs and makes some good plays for them. Furthermore, he is a stabilizer for the Chiefs on and off the field and should be a starter for many years to come.Connor Willsey / Sam Young

The Chiefs have mastered the art creating quite a frenzy throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area, and most of the times they are not good reasons. With the draft in the rear view mirror, many fans have questions about why the Chiefs picked certain guys. What was the most frustrating aspect of watching the draft, was it seemed as Scott Pioli went against getting the best player out of the position they ended up drafting. I don’t tend to think Todd McShay and Mel Kiper’s mock draft boards are doctrine, but I believe the Chiefs left some quality players out in the draft pool. For example in the second round, the Chiefs drafted OG Jeff Allen from the University of Illinois. The Chiefs passed on offensive linemen that were projected as better prospects than Allen such as, Peter Konz (Atlanta pick 55), Mike Adams (Pittsburgh 56), and Kelechi Osemele (Baltimore 60). I understand that Scott Pioli has actually seen these guys workout and maybe they do not fit the scheme. It is almost like he is drafting with the idea that every guy he drafts will have the same success story as Tom Brady. It is obvious they left some pretty talented guys on the draft board, but lets take a look, pick by pick, on how well the Chiefs draft went.

1. Dontari Poe (Memphis) NT C+

After hearing the rumors that the Chiefs may trade up to get Ryan Tannehill, I was just hoping they picked anybody but him. As the pick came in however, I was not as happy as I thought I would have been. With Stanford guard David DeCastro, still available I was certain they would take him. He would have been a great addition along with Eric Winston, to solidify their offensive line as being one of the best in the AFC West. I love Poe’s upside, I mean who wouldn’t like a 6’4″ 330lb guy running a 4.9 forty and bench pressing 225lbs 44 times! He has the tangibles to be a dominating, enforcing nose tackle. This will help Derrick Johnson make more plays and keep the guards off of him. The value of the pick is the most concerning part. Guys such as Devon Stills and Jerel Worthy were not picked until the second round. Both of these guys were seen as much safer picks than Poe. Romeo Crenel vouched for this pick and will take all the heat if he cannot get Poe to become a dominate nose tackle.

2. Jeff Allen (Illinois) OT C-

Again, I do not question the pick because it was a need, however, I do question the value of the pick. The start of the second round, Stanford OT Johnathan Martin was still available and I was for sure the Chiefs would trade up to get him. After that was no longer an option, I figured they would go get Kelechi Osemele, OG, from Iowa State or Peter Konz, OG, from Wisconsin. Allen will not be a player that will a\play immediately and will take on a more developmental role behind Ryan Lilja. He will need a lot of coaching to become the player the Chiefs think he can become.

3. Donald Stephenson (Oklahoma) OT C

Many were surprised that the Chiefs went back to back offensive tackles, but they did when they selected Jeff Allen and then Donald Stphenson in rounds two and three. A great story to begin with, as Stephenson comes back home to play in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform. At 6’6″ 320lbs, Stephenson has great footwork and is a premiere pass blocker. However many did not see Donald coming off the board this early in the draft. He is not the most explosive and dominating left tackle but will provide solid blindside protection. I look for Stephenson to take his first year to learn the system and possibly be the replacement of Brandon Alberts, if the Chiefs or Alberts decide to part ways after this season.

4. Devon Wylie (Fresno St) WR D+

Even if we had not seen Scott Pioli’s resume, we could all assume by the way he drafts that he was with the Patriots. I mean come on, the most obvious reason Devon Wylie was selected was because Pioli thought he could be the next Wes Welker. I have no problem with that at all, except the fact the Chiefs continuously reach for players and leave others for other teams to take. If anything, Devon Wylie will provide the possibility of explosive kick off and punt returns but that is also in question. Last year, he was recovering from a torn ACL and with a 5’9″ 187 lbs frame, I do not seem him lasting long in a NFL uniform.

5. De’Quan Menzie (Alabama) CB B-

When you can get an All-American in the fifth round, I think you should be pleased with your pick. The former Alabama Crimson Tide corner, will provide great man to man coverage as well as an extraordinary tackler which is rare for a corner. He plays physical on the outside and was utilized as a blitzer within Nick Saban’s scheme. He will fit will in the Chiefs three safety packages were they utilize blitzing defensive backs. Menzie’s height and length is concerning if the Chiefs are looking for him to become a number one type corner, but he will fit will in nickel and dime packages for now.

6. Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M) RB A

One of the few consistent players to come out of the underachieving Texas A&M program, Cyrus Gray is a steal pick up early in the sixth round for the Chiefs. With Jamaal Charles coming off injury and Peyton Hillis’ work ethic being questioned, the Chiefs drafted a potential every down back in Gray. Gray touched the ball over 620 times and accumulated nearly 3,300 career yards and scored 30 touchdowns on the ground. He also provides a great pass catching option out of the backfield and even has showed the ability to pick up blitzers. He will provide great depth to an already talented group. Cyrus Gray was one of the Chiefs better picks in the draft and I look for him to make an major impact, depending on how healthy Jamaal Charles knee is.

7. Jerome Long (Sand Diego St.) DT/DE C

The Chiefs made Jerome Long their second defensive linemen selected in this draft in the seventh round. Long has a distinct nose for the ball. He was second on his team in tackles, which is tough for a defensive linemen to do, sacks, and also tackles for a loss. There is nothing that Long does that is overwhelming that spectacular, but he just a solid football player. He will provide a great motor and ability to stop the run at the five technique in the Chiefs 3-4 defense.

8. Junior Hemingway (Michigan) WR B-

The Chiefs capped off the draft by taking Michigan playmaker, Junior Hemingway, one choice of being Mr. Irrelevant which is the last pick. With Dennard Robinson as his quarterback, you would have to think Hemingway is used to making acrobatic adjustments to the ball. You are hard pressed to find anything Hemingway does not do well, because he may have been under utilized due to quarterback play. He has strong hands and has proved he has the ability to catch passes in traffic. Hemingway is a steal for a seventh round pick and I believe he will become a huge playmaker for the future.

I believe as the draft went later and later, the Chiefs made more and more better decisions on picking guys. I believe their is a lot of upside within this class, but their are a lot of risks. The most is in Dontari Poe but he has the ability to be a top defensive tackle in the league. Everyone that was drafted has the ability to make an impact on this team within the next three to four years.

Many times after I have heard about any Chiefs front office moves, the end result is always me quoting the great Vince Lombardi, “WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE!” To actually hear legitimate reports that the Chiefs may draft (waste) their first round pick on former receiver turned quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, makes me won’t to disregard myself as a Chiefs fan. With some of the many issues under the watch of Pioli in Kansas City, I often wonder how int the world were the Patriots so successful. The talk of the Chiefs drafting Tannehill have heated up as the NFL Draft nears closer and closer, which could means two things:

1) The Chiefs are bluffing and trying to entice a team that wants Tannehill later, to trade multiple picks for his services. I like this if this is what Pioli and the front office are truly doing. Though Chiefs fans are so optimistic the Chiefs are Super Bowl bound, there are many needs on the team that make me question that optimism. I believe the whole defensive line needs to be upgraded. Yes there are guys that have played decent, I REPEAT decent, but no one currently on the roster will make Peyton Manning lose sleep because of the intense pressure they bring. Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey are both in contract years, which means they will probably have their most productive season yet so they can get a new contract from either the Chiefs or increase their value in the free agent market. Last years sixth round draft, Jerrell Powe, can be a plugger at nose tackle. Standing in at 6’2″ 335 lbs, Powe’s growth will be intricate because of the 3-4 defense the Chiefs play. If the Chiefs do not believe fully in Powe, I believe there are two guys in this years draft that will bring a disruptive force at the nose tackle position just like Vince Wilfork has done for many years in New England. Michigan St. defensive Tackle Jerell Worthy and combine king, Dontari Poe, look to fit the bill as far as being quality nose tackles who can handle double sometimes triple teams and keep the offensive line off of Derrick Johnson. Both of these guys are well over 300 lbs, maybe even closer to 350, but there is a slight difference. When looking at Worthy, there is actual film of dominating games and creating havoc. He is a very explosive player off the ball and shows great strength when engaging sometimes multiple blockers. However for Poe, film does not reveal the amazing athleticism that he displayed at the NFL combine. This worries many NFL teams, but this has not stopped many GM’s from interviewing Poe. His combine alone will make him a first round pick.

Along with the defensive line, I would love for the Chiefs to pick up linebacker Luke Kuechly out of Boston College. A relentless, intelligent player, Kuechly almost had 200 tackles…. FOUR YEARS IN A ROW!!! If the Chiefs do give up that pick, and Kuechly is gone, Utah St. Bobby Wagener would not be a bad pick up. He literally kept the Utah St. defense in the game against Auburn while making plays all over the field. He is going to be a good linebacker for many years to come in the NFL. He has the size, speed, athleticism, and intelligence to perform well in Romeo’s defense along with Derrick Johnson.

2) I hate to say it, but I think the second option probably the road the Chiefs will take. They will actually draft Tannehill and believe Todd McShay when he says he can be a franchise quarterback. I don’t see it, he had an average college career after playing wide receiver before Texas A&M, as only they can, under achieved and then placed him at quarterback. The Chiefs just drafted Ricky Stanzi last year in the third round, and from reports they want Stanzi to be the guy. If that is the case, then Tannehill being drafted sounds insane to me. If they keep the pick, I truly believe they should get Stanford’s guard David DeCastro. Many scouts have said he is by far the best offensive guard in the draft. With the addition of Eric Winston, this would allow the Chiefs to form chemistry and consistency at the offensive line that has not been seen since Priest Holmes was in the back field. If the Chiefs are so committed to drafting a quarterback, why not wait and pick up Kirk Cousins? I believe Kirk Cousins maybe the second most ready quarterback to run a pro-style offense in this years draft. He has not been talked about being drafted in the first round of the draft, which means he could be picked up in the second and possibly third round. I just am not sold on Tannehill being the starting quarterback for the Chiefs. If we don’t draft any quarterback, hey we still have Brady Quinn and Matt Cassel. All jokes aside I thinking drafting Tannehill would not improve the quarterback position. I pray to the football gods that the Chiefs hold on to that pick or at least trade it and get a later first round and possible second or third round pick. The many people I have talked to about the possible Tannehill pick, leads me to advise Pioli to watch out for a riot on Arrowhead Drive.